The sudden upheaval shattered the festive cheer of Liyue Harbor.
No one had expected trouble to strike at such a crucial moment.
After all, archon residue was something mostly encountered by extraordinary people like the Adepti and Exorcist Adepts.
Most of Liyue's people might never see such evil in their entire lives, because so many had sacrificed themselves to keep calamity at bay, far beyond their sight.
But even without ever having seen evil, they could sense the danger in that ominous aura.
Unease spread across the faces of the people crowding the streets with Sky Lanterns in their hands.
"No!"
Atop the mountain, Xiao's expression changed drastically.
He had never imagined that this outbreak of archon residue would occur so close to Liyue Harbor!
He knew better than anyone how terrifying archon residue was, and the streets of Liyue Harbor were packed with people.
A single charge from this archon residue would be enough to turn those streets into rivers of blood!
Even now, utterly exhausted and knowing he no longer had the strength to fight, he tightened his grip on the Primordial Jade Winged-Spear and leaped straight off the mountaintop, becoming a streak of cyan light that shot toward the evil creatures.
He pushed himself to full speed and reached the bridgehead in an instant.
He stood at the bridgehead, facing more than a hundred evil creatures.
Behind him lay Liyue Harbor and its countless people.
Exhausted, he held the old, battered Primordial Jade Winged-Spear, its blade riddled with chips, barring the creatures from the bridge and sheltering Liyue behind him.
Silently, he donned his demon-quelling Nuo Mask, hiding his exhausted face behind its savage, terrifying visage and using that fearsome appearance to intimidate every monster.
A dense aura of menace and bloodlust erupted from him. The karmic